Troy University Athletics
Tuesday, February 17
Starkville, Miss.
4 p.m.
Troy University
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Mississippi State
Troy Baseball Continues Road Swing at Top-Five Mississippi State
2/16/2026 3:32:00 PM | Baseball
TROY, Ala. - Troy baseball is set to make its first of four consecutive SEC midweek trips on Tuesday, as the Trojans head to Starkville, Miss., to face No. 3 Mississippi State.
The Trojans opened the season with a three-game series at Mercer, dropping the first two matchups before exploding to a 19-3 run-rule win in the finale. The Trojans put up nine runs in the fifth inning of the game, while Jimmy Janicki, Nico Azpilcueta, Steven Meier and Aaron Piasecki each hit their first home runs of the season.
Senior Drew Nelson also had a productive week for the Trojans while playing the outfield for the first time in his career, starting in right field on opening day and in left field in the two following games. The Troy native leads his hometown Trojans with a .545 batting average after opening weekend, which included six hits and the first two doubles of his career.
The Bulldogs, ranked No. 3 by Baseball America, opened the season with a three-game sweep of Hofstra, the first three wins for new head coach Brian O'Connor after spending 22 seasons at Virginia. The Bulldogs were led by Preseason All-American third baseman Ace Reese with a .417 average, three doubles and a homer over the weekend.Â
On the mound, Mississippi State will trot out sophomore right-hander Duke Stone, who pitched 2.0 innings of relief with three hits, two earned runs, two walks and four strikeouts in the season opener.Â
Game Information
The Matchup: Troy (1-2) at No. 3 Mississippi State (3-0)
Game Time: Tuesday, Feb. 17 - 4 p.m
Location: Starkville, Miss. - Dudy Noble Field
TV: SEC Network+
Radio: Troy Sports Radio Network
Live Stats: TroyTrojans.com/LiveStats
On the Mound
Troy: Jr. RHP Blake Dean (0-0, 1.0 IP, 9.00 ERA)
MSU: So. RHP Duke Stone (1-0, 2.0 IP, 9.00 ERA)
Dynamic Deano
Tuesday starter Blake Dean is no stranger to facing top ten teams, as the Kansas State transfer put together a few of his best performances as a Wildcat against No. 10 Clemson as a freshman and No. 6 North Carolina, No. 5 Arkansas and No. 2 LSU last season. In those four contests, Dean pitched 9.1 innings of relief, racking up nine strikeouts and allowing just one earned run.
Dean's start on Tuesday will be his first as a Trojan and fourth of his career. The 2024 All-Big 12 Freshman Team honoree made his Troy debut on Friday, striking out two hitters in an inning as the Trojans' first reliever out of the bullpen.
Newcomers Shine
The talent of Troy's No. 19 ranked transfer class was put on display on opening weekend. Shortstop Aaron Piasecki posted a .714 on-base percentage from the leadoff spot, collecting six hits and a homer while walking six times, which ranks seventh nationally. Outfielder Nico Azpilcueta homered and doubled, while third baseman Josh Pyne had three base knocks in the series finale.
On the mound, a plethora of new Trojans shined in their debuts. Tommy Egan struck out six hitters in five innings as the Game One starter while Benjamin Stubbs fanned six in 3.1 innings to begin Game Three. Cooper Ellingworth pitched two scoreless frames in the opener, while Dylan Alonso earned the win in the finale, striking out five hitters in 1.2 innings out of the bullpen.
Flashing Back
Last season, the Trojans went into Starkville during the second midweek slate of the season and topped the 15th-ranked Bulldogs 6-5. It was the long ball that got Troy the victory despite striking out a school-record 20 times. Vicksburg, Miss., native Shane Lewis hit two, while Steven Meier tattooed a 3-0 Ben Davis fastball to right field to put Troy ahead in the top of the ninth. Meier also added an RBI single in the fifth inning.
Series History
Troy owns a 1-5 all-time record against Mississippi State, picking up their first win against the Bulldogs last season.
The Trojans opened the season with a three-game series at Mercer, dropping the first two matchups before exploding to a 19-3 run-rule win in the finale. The Trojans put up nine runs in the fifth inning of the game, while Jimmy Janicki, Nico Azpilcueta, Steven Meier and Aaron Piasecki each hit their first home runs of the season.
Senior Drew Nelson also had a productive week for the Trojans while playing the outfield for the first time in his career, starting in right field on opening day and in left field in the two following games. The Troy native leads his hometown Trojans with a .545 batting average after opening weekend, which included six hits and the first two doubles of his career.
The Bulldogs, ranked No. 3 by Baseball America, opened the season with a three-game sweep of Hofstra, the first three wins for new head coach Brian O'Connor after spending 22 seasons at Virginia. The Bulldogs were led by Preseason All-American third baseman Ace Reese with a .417 average, three doubles and a homer over the weekend.Â
On the mound, Mississippi State will trot out sophomore right-hander Duke Stone, who pitched 2.0 innings of relief with three hits, two earned runs, two walks and four strikeouts in the season opener.Â
Game Information
The Matchup: Troy (1-2) at No. 3 Mississippi State (3-0)
Game Time: Tuesday, Feb. 17 - 4 p.m
Location: Starkville, Miss. - Dudy Noble Field
TV: SEC Network+
Radio: Troy Sports Radio Network
Live Stats: TroyTrojans.com/LiveStats
On the Mound
Troy: Jr. RHP Blake Dean (0-0, 1.0 IP, 9.00 ERA)
MSU: So. RHP Duke Stone (1-0, 2.0 IP, 9.00 ERA)
Dynamic Deano
Tuesday starter Blake Dean is no stranger to facing top ten teams, as the Kansas State transfer put together a few of his best performances as a Wildcat against No. 10 Clemson as a freshman and No. 6 North Carolina, No. 5 Arkansas and No. 2 LSU last season. In those four contests, Dean pitched 9.1 innings of relief, racking up nine strikeouts and allowing just one earned run.
Dean's start on Tuesday will be his first as a Trojan and fourth of his career. The 2024 All-Big 12 Freshman Team honoree made his Troy debut on Friday, striking out two hitters in an inning as the Trojans' first reliever out of the bullpen.
Newcomers Shine
The talent of Troy's No. 19 ranked transfer class was put on display on opening weekend. Shortstop Aaron Piasecki posted a .714 on-base percentage from the leadoff spot, collecting six hits and a homer while walking six times, which ranks seventh nationally. Outfielder Nico Azpilcueta homered and doubled, while third baseman Josh Pyne had three base knocks in the series finale.
On the mound, a plethora of new Trojans shined in their debuts. Tommy Egan struck out six hitters in five innings as the Game One starter while Benjamin Stubbs fanned six in 3.1 innings to begin Game Three. Cooper Ellingworth pitched two scoreless frames in the opener, while Dylan Alonso earned the win in the finale, striking out five hitters in 1.2 innings out of the bullpen.
Flashing Back
Last season, the Trojans went into Starkville during the second midweek slate of the season and topped the 15th-ranked Bulldogs 6-5. It was the long ball that got Troy the victory despite striking out a school-record 20 times. Vicksburg, Miss., native Shane Lewis hit two, while Steven Meier tattooed a 3-0 Ben Davis fastball to right field to put Troy ahead in the top of the ninth. Meier also added an RBI single in the fifth inning.
Series History
Troy owns a 1-5 all-time record against Mississippi State, picking up their first win against the Bulldogs last season.
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Players Mentioned
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